Secretary Yau Promotes Hong Kong as Investment Gateway During Istanbul Visit

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, on his visit to Istanbul, Türkiye, on October 20 (Istanbul time) promoted Hong Kong's unparalleled advantages and its role as a springboard to foster two-way investment and trade with a view to strengthening the partnership between Hong Kong and Türkiye.

Mr Yau first met with the President of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr A Burak Dağlıoğlu, to brief him on Hong Kong's latest economic and trade developments, and major measures to attract enterprises and investment to consolidate the city's position as an international trade centre and business hub. He also introduced the latest establishment of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global in Hong Kong to assist Mainland enterprises in exploring overseas markets including the Turkish one. They also exchanged views on investment promotion strategies and enhancing collaboration between Hong Kong and Türkiye in various areas including the Belt and Road Initiative.

Mr Yau then held a business roundtable with members of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye to share with them Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle and latest initiatives such as the Northern Metropolis Development and e-commerce to inject economic impetus. In view of the changes in the global economic landscape, various economies are proactively exploring emerging markets to cope with challenges. He noted that Hong Kong is an ideal springboard for Turkish enterprises to tap into the Southeast Asian and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) markets, while at the same time serving as a key platform for Mainland companies seeking to expand their overseas business to go global via Hong Kong, boosting two-way trade and investment to benefit all.

Mr Yau also paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Istanbul, Mr Davut Gül, to give him an update on Hong Kong’s latest developments in various fields and exchange views on business and trade collaboration between Hong Kong and Türkiye to forge closer bilateral ties. He also briefed him on the development of the GBA and the business opportunities it presents for Turkish enterprises.

In the evening, Mr Yau attended a business dinner organised by Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to promote Hong Kong's premier business environment and unique advantages of being closely connected to both the Mainland and the world. Speaking to some 30 participating business leaders, he said that Türkiye and Hong Kong have very good bilateral trade relationships. The merchandise trade between the two places during the past five years has seen an average growth of about 4 per cent despite the unprecedented hit of the pandemic.

Mr Yau noted that the two places are both important gateways in their respective regions. Hong Kong is at a strategic location, right at the centre of Asia, enabling the city to serve as the gateway to trade and investments in the Chinese Mainland and the Asian markets. He also shared with the guests Hong Kong's strengths as the world's fifth-largest trading entity (after the Chinese Mainland, the European Union, the United States and Japan), the third-ranked global financial centre, the biggest offshore Renminbi centre and the world's freest economy, among others.

He encouraged Turkish enterprises to set up their base of regional operations in Hong Kong to enjoy the preferential treatment under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement to enter the vast Chinese Mainland market. He said that coupled with its simple and low tax system, free flow of capital and vibrant lifestyles and culture, Hong Kong is a stable, open and resilient international hub and a conduit to the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asian region for trade, investment, innovation and people-to-people exchange.

Before the dinner, Mr Yau took the opportunity to meet with the Chinese Consul-General in Istanbul, Mr Wei Xiaodong, to keep him abreast of Hong Kong's latest developments and efforts to deepen international co-operation and exchange.

Mr Yau will depart for Tbilisi, Georgia, on October 21 (Istanbul time) to attend the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCED promotes HK's role as springboard to foster two-way investment and trade on visit to Türkiye Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases